Sunday XXXII Per Annum (B)
Barbarolo, November 8 2009
1. The evangelical page we have just heard, puts in front of our eyes the figure of a poor widow who makes her offer for the cult in the temple. Jesus say to us the amount of the offer too:"two mites, which make a farthing". We would say: a cent. So, a precious little thing, compared to what people were offering in that same moment.
But, listen to what Jesus says: Truly I say to you, that this poor widow has cast more in, than all they who have cast into the treasury: for all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living'. The measure God uses for evaluating the value of what we give, is totally different from the one used by men.
They simply estimate the quantity of the gift: the one who offers one hundred euros offers more than the one who offers one euro only. God, on the contrary, considers in what measure the gift of what we have, expresses the gift of what we are, the gift of ourselves.
So, why does Jesus say the poor widow had given more than everyone? Because she had given all her necessary not to live well, but simply to live. At that point, in that condition, she simply had to rely on God himself for living, put herself in His hands. And we are at the main point of what Jesus wants to teach us.
Our relationship with God doesn't simply form by means of exterior acts. It is by means of the heart that we go into His alliance. What does it mean? It means that the real religiousness and docility of our person to the word of God is deep obedience of our will to the law of God; it is affection of the heart to Christ and to His Church. When a person puts herself in front of God in this way, she gives herself to Him. It is the measure of this gift that God considers: the measure of the gift of oneself.
2. But why are things so in Christianity? There is a very deep and simple reason. We are explained in the second lecture.
As you have heard, one talks about Jesus. In fact, more precisely about His death and resurrection.
One talks about it comparing them with the cult which took place in the temple of Jerusalem. While the Jewish cult demanded many sacrifices, the offer of many victims, Jesus 'just once now, in the fullness of times, has appeared to delete sin by means of the sacrifice of Himself'. Jesus has offered, has given Himself on the cross. He has founded christian cult through the act by which He has given Himself, and in the participation of each of us in this gift by means of the offer of ourselves.
Pay close attention to me, please. What is Eucharist? What does it mean to participate in Eucharist? Eucharist is the same sacrifice that Jesus made of Himself on the Cross, under the appearances of bread and wine. Consequently, Eucharist gives us the chance to take part in the sacrifice of Jesus. How? Offering ourselves; letting ourselves attract into the disinterested act of Jesus and becoming participating in his dynamism.
If it happens to you to see a dewdrop when sun rises in the morning, you would see a wonderful thing: sun itself reflects inside the little drop. On the spiritual plane of persons, this event happens every time we celebrate Eucharist.
The act of love of Jesus, the gift of Himself made on the cross, penetrates in our person, in our heart with all its power, enabling us to love. You can see which depth the teaching of Jesus has in the Gospel.
Dear brothers and sisters, at the end of the pastoral Visit I recommend you the faithfulness to holy-day Eucharist. If you are faithful, if you take part to it with deep faith, your life will gradually change. And as we have prayed in the beginning, 'you shall freely dedicate yourselves to serve God': this is the real joy, and our freedom.
La traduzione, non rivista dal Cardinale Caffarra, è di Stefania Floridia.
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